On Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July the public is invited to attend an open weekend at the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana also known as ‘Casa Manresa.’

Details on the event were announced this morning during a news conference addressed by Secretary of the Administrative office of the Archdiocese of Malta, Michael Pace Ross.

During the two days of the open weekend visitors can pass through corridors with various works of art and architecture, visit the artistic work of the refectory hall and participate in various informative talks on the history of the building, the restoration projects being made by the Church, as well as on how to digitally archive historical documents.

Pace Ross said that for the first time the public will be able to go down in the crypt which dates back 280 years. He also said that there will be four exhibitions on both days: an exhibition with Maltese historical documents during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, an exhibition on Beatu Nazju Falzon, as well as the first 15 paintings by the Maltese artist Joseph Calleja.

Various objects will be exhibited on the floor and videos related to the four visits to Malta by the Popes in recent years will also be shown.

Visitors will be able to meet with several Church entities who will be explaining their work in society.

Organisations present will include Dar tal-Providenza, Caritas Malta, Fondazzjoni Sebh, the Migrants’ Commission and the Church Housing for the Elderly.

On Sunday, Archbishop Charles Scicluna will celebrate mass from the chapel of the Curia for the feast of San Kalcidonju.

The mass will be broadcast at 9:30am on TVM, Knisja.mt and Newsbook.com.mt.

Casa della Madonna di Manresa is an integral part of Malta’s religious and social history, built in the mid-18th century by the Jesuit Order as a retreat house and is still in use today by monks for 17 years. Currently, the Archbishop’s Curia is used for the central administration of the Archdiocese of Malta.

The Archbishop’s Curia will be open to the public on Saturday 23 July from 5pm until 10pm, and on Sunday 24 July from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 5pm to 8.30pm.

Admission to the open weekend is free and the program can be found on Knisja.mt. Donations to The Archbishop’s Charity Fund are appreciated.